Ganesha Obtains the Title of Ganadhipa

Narada said

Lord of subjects, seeing Girija's son alive, Devi was happy. What happened after that? Out of compassion, tell me now.

Brahma replied

Lord among sages, seeing Girija's son alive, Devi was happy. Listen to what followed; I will tell you of the great festivities. Sage, Shivaa's son came back to life, untroubled and not malformed. The gods performed Gajanana's abhisheka as lord of the ganas. Beholding her son, Devi Shivaa was filled with joy, clasped the child with both hands and embraced him. Ambika happily gave her son Ganesha many garments and diverse ornaments. Devi honoured him with many siddhis and touched him with a hand that removes every distress. Having honoured her son, Devi Shankari kissed his face, granted him boons and said cheerfully:

Devi said

Since birth you have faced miseries. From now on you will be blessed and successful in everything. From now on you will be worshipped before all the other immortals and never suffer unhappiness. Sindura can now be seen on your face, so men will always worship you with sindura. If a person follows the norms and worships you with flowers, sandal paste, auspicious fragrances, excellent naivedya, proper nirajana, betel leaves, gifts, circumambulation and proper namaskara, he will surely succeed in all his aims, and many kinds of obstacles will be destroyed for him.

Brahma said

So Devi Maheshvari spoke to her own son and honoured him again with many gifts. Brahmana, by Girija's compassion at that moment all became well with the gods and especially the ganas. Then Vasava and the other gods happily and devotedly praised Shiva, placated him and brought him before Shivaa. After bringing Girisha, for the welfare of the three worlds they set the child on Maheshani's lap. Shiva laid his lotus hand on his head and told the gods, "This is another of my sons." Ganesha got up and bowed to Shiva, and to Parvati, to me and to Vishnu. Standing before Narada and the other rishis he said, "My crime should be pardoned. Such pride belongs only to humans." The three divinities, I, Shankara and Vishnu, spoke together and gladly gave him excellent boons: "Best of gods, as the three worlds worship us, Gananatha will be worshipped by everyone. We came from Prakriti and he too was born of Prakriti and should be worshipped. Ganesha will remove obstacles and give all the fruits desired. Men will worship him first and us afterward. If he is not worshipped we will all remain unworshipped. Gods, if others are worshipped without worshipping him, the fruits are destroyed; there is no need to reflect on it." Having said this, we lovingly gave Ganesha many gifts. Shiva honoured him first, Vishnu after that, then I, Brahma, and Parvati. Full of great joy all the gods and ganas worshipped him. To please Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Hara and the rest all got together and declared that Ganesha would control everyone.

With a pleased mind, Shiva, who always brings happiness to the worlds, gave him many boons.

Shiva said

Son of the Indra among mountains' daughter, I am certainly pleased. When I am pleased with you, the universe is pleased with you and no one will oppose you. Though a child, you showed great valour. You are energetic and are Shakti's son, and so you will always be happy. Your name will be Vighnahantri and you will be the best. From now on you will lead all my ganas and be worshipped.

Brahma said

Saying this, Shankara laid down many norms for such worship, praised him and at once pronounced many blessings on him. The gods and ganas sang, danced and played instruments, and rejoicing, made many apsaras do the same. Pleased, great-souled Shambhu Shiva gave Gananatha another boon.

Shiva said

Ganeshvara, you were born on the chaturthi of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadra, at the auspicious time when the moon rises. Your form appeared from Girija's excellent mind in the first yama. So your excellent vow will be gladly observed when that day begins, on that tithi. If that vow is observed specially, it will be excellent and bring every kind of success. That vow must be observed again on the chaturthi that comes at the end of the year. That is my command and yours. If a person wants unmatched happiness in this world he must follow the norms and devotedly worship you in many ways on chaturthi. On the beautiful chaturthi in the month of Margashirsha, one must bathe in the morning and entrust the task of keeping the vow to brahmanas. Worship is done with durva grass, and the rules of fasting are observed. In the first prahara of the night a man bathes and worships. An image is made of metal, coral, white arka flowers or clay. A man must install it and, controlling himself, worship it with many fragrances, divine sandal paste and flowers. The durva used must be a vitasti long, its blades unbroken and rootless, one hundred and one blades in all. The installed image is worshipped with twenty-one blades. The leader of ganas is worshipped with incense, lamps and different naivedya. After worshipping with betel leaves and other articles of arghya, one bows and praises. The young moon is worshipped next. Then the devotee worships brahmanas and cheerfully feeds them sweetmeats. What he himself eats must not be sweet and must not contain salt. After this, fully controlled, he performs visarjana, then remembers Ganesha. This is how the auspicious vow is completed. A man should keep the vow for a year, and to complete it perform the concluding rites. At my command twelve brahmanas must be fed. A pot is placed and your image worshipped. By the Vedic norms a lotus of eight petals is drawn on the ground. Without deceit, those who have wealth offer oblations there. In front of the image, by the norms, two women and two young brahmanas are lovingly worshipped and fed. One stays awake through the night and worships again in the morning. Visarjana is performed, with a wish for return. Blessings and words of peace are received from a child. To complete the vow a handful of flowers is offered. After namaskara the other tasks follow. A man who keeps the vow so obtains the fruits he desires. Ganesha, if a person constantly worships you with devotion according to his capacity, he gets all the fruits he wants. Ganeshvara is to be worshipped with sindura, sandal paste, paddy, ketaki flowers and many kinds of upachara. A man who worships devotedly with many upacharas will always succeed and obstacles in this world will be removed. These vows should be kept by everyone, especially by women and by kings who desire ascendancy; such a person will certainly gain what he wishes for. So you will be served by anyone who wants anything.

Brahma said

Shiva said this to great-souled Ganesha.

Brahma said

Sage, all the gods, the excellent rishis and all of Shambhu's favourite ganas agreed to this. Ganadhisha was worshipped in many supreme ways, and all the ganas bowed to Ganeshvara and lovingly honoured and worshipped him with many gifts. Lord among sages, even with all four of my mouths how could I describe the joy Girija felt? The gods' drums sounded, hosts of apsaras danced, the foremost gandharvas sang and flowers were showered down. When Ganadhisha was installed, the world became safe; there were great festivities, and every misery was destroyed. Narada, Shiva and Shivaa in particular rejoiced. Everything was most auspicious and brought happiness. Crowds of gods, rishis and ganas had gathered there at Shiva's command and praised Shivaa and Ganesha again and again, and praised Shiva too, crying, "What a battle!" After Devi Girija lost her rage, Shiva and Girija behaved as they had before, and for the welfare of the worlds they took part in many joyous acts. Though he delights within his own atman, he always does this for his devotees. Devotedly serving Shiva and Shivaa, Vishnu and I, Brahma, took Shiva's leave and went to our own abodes. Lord among sages, you, Narada, sang of the fame of Shiva and Shivaa, took leave of them and went to your own residence. So I have told you everything about the fame of Shiva and Shivaa and the fame of Vighnesha, as you lovingly asked. This is an auspicious account. A person who controls himself and listens to it properly gains everything auspicious, and his house becomes auspicious. A man without a son gets a son, one without riches gets riches, one seeking a wife gets a wife, one seeking offspring gets offspring. A sick man is healed and an unfortunate one gets good fortune. A wife who has lost her son and her wealth will get her husband back. A man overwhelmed by grief will grieve no more; of this there is no doubt. If this account of Ganesha is kept in a house, auspiciousness will always be there, without doubt. A person who controls himself and hears it when travelling, or on a sacred day, will by the favour of Shri Ganesha gain everything he wishes for.